Kommetjie has a way of slowing time. The Atlantic wind scuffs the dunes, the waves roll in with a rhythm older than memory, and the mountain keeps its own quiet watch over the village. For three days this December, from Friday the 4th to Sunday the 6th, that unhurried atmosphere will become the setting for something deeply human: Open Studios Kommetjie. Returning for its eighth year, the free event invites art lovers not just to look at work on polished gallery walls, but to meet the people who make it, in the very rooms where the making happens. There is a special intimacy in stepping into an artist’s private studio — seeing the jars of brushes, the paint-spattered aprons, the half-formed ideas waiting on the easel, the faint smell of turpentine or clay hanging in the air. Visitors can explore private spaces that are usually closed to the public, view original work in every stage of completion, and buy directly from the artists, with no gallery markup and no polite distance. It is art stripped back to its essentials: an artist, a place, a visitor, and a story. Against Kommetjie’s dramatic coastline and laid-back village charm, the event feels less like an exhibition and more like a neighbourly invitation. This year, thirty artists will open twenty-three locations across the area, turning the whole village into a vibrant, walkable celebration of creativity. The route meanders through gardens, past bougainvillea and proteas, into converted garages and sunlit studios, with sea views and mountain paths leading the way. It is a chance to slow down, to breathe, and to rediscover the joy of handmade things — a rare and wonderful gift in a world that so often rushes past.
Open Studios Kommetjie has never tried to be a typical art fair. It began as a grassroots project, built by artists and neighbours who believed that art should be shared, not hidden away, and that spirit still guides the event today. The programme spans painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, and public art, and it deliberately brings together emerging, mid-career, and established artists. For visitors, this mix is one of the greatest pleasures: a first-time exhibitor working in a tiny home studio might sit just down the road from a well-known sculptor whose work has been exhibited across the country. The point is not fame, but authenticity. The event’s steering committee sums it up simply: the heart of the initiative is the opportunity for visitors to meet the artists and talk to them about their work. In a gallery, there is often a barrier between the viewer and the maker; here, that barrier dissolves. You can ask a printmaker why she chose a particular ink, or ask a photographer what he was feeling when he pressed the shutter. You can watch a sculptor demonstrate a technique, or simply sit and listen to an artist describe the long journey of a single canvas. These conversations are what turn a casual visit into a lasting memory. The committee works year-round to select participants and shape the programme with genuine care, and that care shows in the quality of the work and the warmth of the welcome. Because the event has grown so organically over eight years, it has become a fixed point on the Cape art calendar — a time when collectors, curators, and curious locals all come together to celebrate the creative energy of this coastal community. For many artists, it is the best weekend of the year, not just because of sales, but because of the simple, human joy of connection.
This year’s featured artist is ceramicist Lisa Ringwood, and her work embodies the quiet, attentive observation that Open Studios encourages. Ringwood creates hand-built vessels that are not just objects but stories in clay. She draws on local wildlife and fynbos — the delicate, often overlooked plants of the Cape — and combines these drawings with sgraffito designs, a technique in which layers of coloured slip are carefully scratched away to reveal the clay beneath. The result is work that feels grounded in the earth yet alive with motion: a bird caught mid-call, a seed pod bursting, the fragile silhouette of a protea. Standing before one of her pieces, you can see the imprint of her fingers and the patience of a mind that refuses to hurry. Ringwood says she has always appreciated the care that goes into selecting participating artists, and she is genuinely honoured to be part of this year’s programme. That sense of mutual respect is just as important as the work itself. For her, Open Studios is not a chance to perform, but to connect. Visitors to her studio will be able to watch her at work, ask about the materials and methods she uses, and understand the long process behind every curve and cut. In a world that increasingly values speed and convenience, Ringwood’s ceramics ask us to pause, look closely, and find beauty in the imperfect and the natural. Her work is a reminder that the most meaningful art is often made slowly, by hand, in a particular place — and that the story of a piece is just as valuable as the piece itself.
At the centre of all this activity lies the main hub, hosted by Seeff Kommetjie at its office and sponsored by Tracey Reid-Daly. This is where visitors can collect printed maps, study the route, and view a selection of work before heading out into the village. It is a warm and practical starting point, designed to make sure no one feels lost or overwhelmed. But the hub is only one of the new elements this year. A brand-new residency space, sponsored by The Village Place, will showcase the work of OSK artists Jeán America and Reagan Rubain. The venue has recently been renovated, and it promises to be a light-filled, inspiring space where visitors can meet both artists, ask questions, and watch their practices evolve over the course of the weekend. For America and Rubain, it is an exciting opportunity to work in a public setting and to let the community into their creative process. The residency space is also intended as a gathering place — a spot where visitors can rest, sip coffee, talk to strangers, and share their discoveries. In many ways, it captures the spirit of Open Studios Kommetjie: not just a trail of exhibitions, but a shared experience that brings neighbours and visitors together. The Village Place has long been part of the local community, and its support reflects the way this event has become woven into the fabric of Kommetjie life. Whether you are a returning visitor or a first-timer, the hub and the residency give you a place to begin, a reason to linger, and a chance to feel at home.
The heart of Open Studios extends far beyond the three days in December. This year, the annual Give Back Project has grown into something even more meaningful, thanks to the introduction of Off the Wall, a mid-winter fundraising art event presented by the OSK Collective — a group made up of past and present participants of Open Studios Kommetjie. Part of the proceeds from Off the Wall supported HopeTown, an organisation in Ocean View that creates opportunities for young people through creative programmes. HopeTown’s workshop will be included on the studio map, giving visitors a chance to see the work being done and understand how art can transform lives. This is not a vague handout; it is a direct investment in a generation of young people who are learning to tell their own stories through creativity. Another portion of the proceeds will support OSK’s public art project, which aims to create opportunities and visibility for local artists. This year’s recipient is Jéan America, one of the artists featured in the new residency space. America has been selected to receive public art funding and will create a large-scale mural at The Village Place — a permanent gift to the community, visible long after the studios have closed. The next Off the Wall event is planned for June 2027, with further details to be announced closer to the time. But for now, the impact is already being felt. Through these initiatives, Open Studios Kommetjie proves that it is not merely an exhibition; it is a living, giving part of the Cape creative ecosystem, one that believes art has the power to heal, inspire, and unite.
For those planning to visit, Open Studios Kommetjie runs from 10am to 5pm daily from Friday, December 4, to Sunday, December 6. Admission is completely free. Visitors can use the online map at www.openstudioskommetjie.com, where all 23 studio locations are listed, or they can collect a printed copy at the main hub or at participating studios. The map is a practical treasure map of sorts: it includes public artworks, local cafés, and wheelchair-friendly venues, so every visitor can plan a route that suits their pace and ability. The route can be explored on foot, by bicycle, or by vehicle — and given Kommetjie’s hills and sea winds, many people find a bicycle is the most joyful way to travel between studios. There is no need to rush; the point is to wander, stop, chat, and discover. Some visits will be quick; others will turn into long conversations that spill out into the garden. It is worth bringing cash, as many artists prefer direct sales, and buying something if you can — your support goes straight to the maker and allows them to keep doing what they love. Finally, for those who want to keep up with the latest news and behind-the-scenes moments, the False Bay Echo is on TikTok and Instagram under @ccmonlineza. Follow along, share your finds, and join the conversation. Open Studios Kommetjie is more than an art event; it is a celebration of community, creativity, and the simple, powerful act of making something with your own hands.